Marangu Route
Route Notes:
- Difficulty: Medium
- Scenery: Good
- Traffic: High
Trek Inclusions:
Accommodation
Transfer
Meals
Marangu Route, commonly known as the Coca Cola route is more popular because it can be done in fewer days and has permanent sleep huts at the campsites.
Summit night from Kibo Hut is steep and passes Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak. It is a shorter route with a steeper incline and less time for acclimatization it tends to have a lower summit success rate. This is the only route where the ascent and descent route is shared, thus creating more traffic.
Trekking Itinerary
Day 1:
Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut 2720m
After breakfast, start hiking through moorland, alpine desert to the saddle area between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Picnic lunch will be served halfway before reaching the camp. After arriving at Kibo Hut, check-in, and spend your time resting until dinner time.
Today you will get your dinner earlier to give yourself enough time for rest. Your guides will meet for a summit briefing before you go to sleep. Carefully listen and follow the advice from your guides for a successful summit.
- Hiking time: 5hours Hiking distance 9 km
Day 2:
Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut 3720 m
The morning after breakfast, start your day walking through the forest until you reach open moorland where you can see the first view of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks if the weather is clear. Enjoy your picnic lunch and proceed on your journey until you reach Horombo hut after 5 hours of your trekking. On the way, expect to see Lobelia Deckenii and Senecio Kilimanjari
- Hiking time: 5hours Hiking distance 11 km
Day 3:
Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut.
After breakfast, start hiking through moorland, alpine desert to the saddle area between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Picnic lunch will be served halfway before reaching the camp. After arriving at Kibo Hut, check-in, and spend your time resting until dinner time. Today you will get your dinner earlier to give yourself enough time for rest. Your guides will meet for a summit briefing before you go to sleep. Carefully listen and follow the advice from your guides for a successful summit.
- Hiking time: 5hours Hiking distance 9 km
Day 4:
Kibo Hut to Uhuru peak 5895 m to Horombo
Today you wake up early around 11 pm for summit preparation and breakfast. Unlike other days your breakfast will be very early and light. After breakfast, we start our summit journey around 12.00. Don’t rush, enjoy your special night. The summit night is always challenging but if you respect the mountain and follow the advice from your guides it will be easy.
At some point, you can feel exhausted but never give up, try to push yourself slowly while drinking frequently.
It is advised to drink a lot of water at the beginning before freezing. Stop at Gilman’s Point 5,681 m for hot drinks and photos. It takes us 2 hours from Gilman’s point to Uhuru Peak where we celebrate conquering the peak of Africa and enjoying the beautiful sunrise, crater view, and glaciers.
After taking many photos at the top of Africa, we return to the base camp for breakfast, short rest, and lunch before we descend to Horombo Hut 3720 m. Enjoy your last dinner and your last night on Kilimanjaro. Hopefully, you will get a better night’s sleep due to physical exhaustion.
- Hiking time and distance from Kibo Hut to Gilman’s Point: 6 hrs 4 km
- Hiking time and distance from Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak: 2 hours 2km
- Descending time and distance from Uhuru to Horombo Hut: 5 hrs 16 km
Day 5:
Leave Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
After the last breakfast on the mountain, you will descend about 5 to 6 hours back to Marangu Gate. Your guide will collect your certificates on arrival check out and be ready to drive back to your hotel in Arusha for a shower and celebrations. Descending time: 6 hours Descending distance 19k m
Inquire about this Trek
Cost Covers:
- Airport Transfers (we pick up you on arrival day, and we take you back after the climb)
- Transfers from Hotel to Kilimanjaro entrance gate and from Kilimanjaro exit gate to the hotel
- Quality Sleeping tents shared by 2 clients
- Mess tents, Crew tents, Table, Chairs, eating utensils, cooking equipment.
- Clean, purified drinking water
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Kilimanjaro entrance fees/conservation fees
- Kilimanjaro Camping fees
- Rescue Fees and all taxes.
- Salaries for Porters, Cook, and Guides
- Oxygen Tanks, Pulse Oximeter, and First Aid Kit
- Sleeping Mats
Cost does not Cover;
- International and local airfare
- Local transportation before and after the climb.
- Yellow fever vaccinations
- Passport, Visa, and Travelers Insurance
- Personal expenses example: Laundry, beverages, etc.
- Tips for the support team
- Private Toilet and hot shower tent
- Bed, Sleeping Bag, and walking Poles.
- Optional tours not mentioned in this itinerary